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The Drop Box: How 500 Abandoned Babies, an Act of Compassion, and a Movie Changed My Life Forever
Brian Ivie was filled with compassion as he read an LA Times article about Pastor Lee’s solution to unwanted newborns in South Korea—a baby drop box. Brian traveled halfway around the world to film the documentary The Drop Box . But God had even bigger plans. For in the midst of filming the plight of these abandoned and forgotten children, Brian realized his own spiritual brokenness.
At its heart, this is a story of spiritual orphans—young and old—discovering their true identity as children of God.
At its heart, this is a story of spiritual orphans—young and old—discovering their true identity as children of God.
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2015
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March 23, 2015
This kind of book gives this Christian chills. When God does a work in you that you have no ideal is happening. I call it a train wreck.
“Because in 2011, as I flew six thousand miles to make a movie about saving Korean babies, I had no ideal God was saving me”.
Being part of a story is one thing but being part of a battle is another. Brian Ivie in hearing the story of Pastor Lee in saving unwanted babies, unknowns to him, became part of the battle by sharing Pastor Lee’s story. What struck me is the longing to be a hero but to be a hero; we have to be in a battle. You are brought into Ivies’ life and his life was films. He saw greatness in making films and one has to wonder if it was because he could call the shots. He could call who was the hero or the zero. It was in films he had an ideal of how the world should be. He loved the world how he wanted to be. That included his girlfriend. In his worldview of how life should be, he became unsatisfied. His belief in God is the American view in that everyone had their way of believing and that faith was a way for a better life now. In other words, he did not have an understanding of the Gospel. This understanding came when he saw in the life of Pastor Lee and his rescue mission. True love is ugly and messy and Pastor Lee’s story in the LA times revealed the messiness of that love by his rescue of unwanted babies. Most of these babies are with disabilities.
When my son was born healthy, I never asked why. Why was I so lucky? What did I do to deserve this perfect child, this perfect life? But when he got sick you can bet I asked why! I demanded to know why? Why was this happening? Mrs. Lowe Awakenings.
A love like Pastor’s Lee is likened to how God loves us; “ this is love, that he first loved us” because God receives nothing in return. The only thing he gets is cleaning up the messes, ingratitude, maybe a praise the Lord. There are no benefits that Pastor Lee receives. Many times we are not aware that we love this way. We are a world that loves because of the benefits without thought. It is this when Ives began to change. With a new definition of what love looks like, a heart change began to happen.
With a quote from a well-known film for each chapter, what else could it be, you are brought to the cross one step at a time. With humor, a transparency and a movie buff’s dream, the gospel is open wide. It will not leave you the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EShAp...
A Special thank you to David C Cook Publishing and Netgalley for e-book and the opportunity for a honest review.
“Because in 2011, as I flew six thousand miles to make a movie about saving Korean babies, I had no ideal God was saving me”.
Being part of a story is one thing but being part of a battle is another. Brian Ivie in hearing the story of Pastor Lee in saving unwanted babies, unknowns to him, became part of the battle by sharing Pastor Lee’s story. What struck me is the longing to be a hero but to be a hero; we have to be in a battle. You are brought into Ivies’ life and his life was films. He saw greatness in making films and one has to wonder if it was because he could call the shots. He could call who was the hero or the zero. It was in films he had an ideal of how the world should be. He loved the world how he wanted to be. That included his girlfriend. In his worldview of how life should be, he became unsatisfied. His belief in God is the American view in that everyone had their way of believing and that faith was a way for a better life now. In other words, he did not have an understanding of the Gospel. This understanding came when he saw in the life of Pastor Lee and his rescue mission. True love is ugly and messy and Pastor Lee’s story in the LA times revealed the messiness of that love by his rescue of unwanted babies. Most of these babies are with disabilities.
When my son was born healthy, I never asked why. Why was I so lucky? What did I do to deserve this perfect child, this perfect life? But when he got sick you can bet I asked why! I demanded to know why? Why was this happening? Mrs. Lowe Awakenings.
A love like Pastor’s Lee is likened to how God loves us; “ this is love, that he first loved us” because God receives nothing in return. The only thing he gets is cleaning up the messes, ingratitude, maybe a praise the Lord. There are no benefits that Pastor Lee receives. Many times we are not aware that we love this way. We are a world that loves because of the benefits without thought. It is this when Ives began to change. With a new definition of what love looks like, a heart change began to happen.
With a quote from a well-known film for each chapter, what else could it be, you are brought to the cross one step at a time. With humor, a transparency and a movie buff’s dream, the gospel is open wide. It will not leave you the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EShAp...
A Special thank you to David C Cook Publishing and Netgalley for e-book and the opportunity for a honest review.
January 2, 2021
Great book, it was very inspiring
March 3, 2015
You might have seen or heard of the documentary film by the same name that's showing in select theaters now. It tells the story of a pastor in South Korea who made it his mission to care for and find homes for those babies who society doesn't want, those born with handicaps or to unwed mothers. He mounted an actual "drop box", a metal box with blankets in it and linked to a notification alarm in his house, where those infants who would otherwise be discarded can be left for him and his wife to care for. Hundreds of children who otherwise had no hope have been loved and cared for through his simple, effective ministry. It is a heart-rending and powerful story.
Brian Ivie made that movie, and during it's filming something profound happened to him. When I read this book, Brian's memoir, I spent about 2/3 of it disliking Brian. He was self-centered, manipulative, and generally kind of a jerk. And he says as much about himself. Through the making of the documentary, something he did only because he wanted to win an award the Sundance Film Festival, God began to show Brian what true, sacrificial, fatherly love is. The transformation, even in the tone of the writing, from that time forward was remarkable. Brian changed from that selfish prima donna into a humble, caring person seeking to introduce people to God's love through film and now this book. His story is a good one and Ted did a wonderful job capturing it in writing. It is not a "happily ever after" tale or a "God used exposure to others' suffering to change me" story. Rather it's a memoir of God leading a young man to the place where he would understand true, eternal love.
Brian Ivie made that movie, and during it's filming something profound happened to him. When I read this book, Brian's memoir, I spent about 2/3 of it disliking Brian. He was self-centered, manipulative, and generally kind of a jerk. And he says as much about himself. Through the making of the documentary, something he did only because he wanted to win an award the Sundance Film Festival, God began to show Brian what true, sacrificial, fatherly love is. The transformation, even in the tone of the writing, from that time forward was remarkable. Brian changed from that selfish prima donna into a humble, caring person seeking to introduce people to God's love through film and now this book. His story is a good one and Ted did a wonderful job capturing it in writing. It is not a "happily ever after" tale or a "God used exposure to others' suffering to change me" story. Rather it's a memoir of God leading a young man to the place where he would understand true, eternal love.
March 15, 2015
In South Korea a Drop box is set up in a ragged working class network. This drop box is not for books but for babies and it has saved over five hundred babies that would have otherwise been abandoned. This is the story of the creators of a film about this Drop box and the babies it has saved. This is a story of Hope and Salvation, it will encourage and inspires others as well. I give this book five out of five stars..
January 31, 2020
This story is definitely a must read. It had me in tears both sad and happy/overwhelmed because of the power and amazing love of our Heavenly Father and how he uses ordinary people to do incredible things to show his love to those who are considered to be worthless in society. Pastor Lee is such an inspiration in how he set up the drop box in South Korea for people to put abandoned children in and he’d take them in to look after them and love them as his own children. He truly showed them the father heart of God, that they belong to God’s family and are so precious. Pastor Lee and his ministry also have a great impact on Brian who decides to create a film on what Pastor Lee is doing.
God loves the orphans and wants us to care for them too. We all once were orphaned but when we are saved through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are no longer orphans, we are children of God.
God loves the orphans and wants us to care for them too. We all once were orphaned but when we are saved through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are no longer orphans, we are children of God.
June 10, 2017
First, I need to clear the air about that one-star rating.
My heart has always been drawn to Asian culture. Ever since a young age, I thought Asians "were the prettiest people ever" (to quote nine-year-old Lindsey).
I became active in the China adoption community back in 2012, when I was thirteen. I started following over 200 adoption blogs about families adopting from China. Come 2015 I was hearing buzz about The Drop Box in South Korea and definitely wanted to go see the documentary.
As much as you can enjoy/love a movie featuring such heartbreak, I did. I went home and painted the logo to the drop box, with the Korean Hangul and the phrase "Jesus love you" which is actually on the box in South Korea, to the Scripture Psalm 27:10 in my Journaling Bible.
Fast-forward to late 2016, I had went to China that summer and started enjoying K-dramas and K-pop that winter.
Now: I've had this book on my TBR since seeing the movie. I thought, like most avid readers, that the book would be better than the movie.
This one sure wasn't.
It took 65 pages to get to the South Korea parts of the story, the majority of this book reading like an autobiography of the director of the film and writer of this book.
Ivie shares about his addiction to porn and how he used to undress woman in his mind.
Now let me say, that I'm glad he's changed in that regard; but I still wasn't expecting this book to be what it was, and I'm very disappointed.
Content wise up to page 145:
2 ‘sexy’s; Mentions of porn & watching it (Brian looked at it often in high school & college; Mentions of him imaging to undress women, being talked to seductively, & hearing their moans); Mentions of sleeping around & sex; Mentions of kissing, girlfriends, boyfriends, dating, & liking girls; Mentions of suggestive texts & flirting; Mentions of abortions & newly born babies abandoned; Mentions of unwed & teenager mothers; A couple mentions of cheating on a spouse; A mention of date rape; A mention of a brothel; A mention of an American dream of sex, drugs, & jazz; A mention of hormonal needs.
1 ‘Oh ----‘, 1 ‘dumb’, 1 ‘gosh’, 2 ‘stupid’, 1 ‘suck’, two forms of ‘crap’; Mentions of cursing (not written); Mentions of drinking, drunks, beer, & whiskey; Mentions of drugs, marijuana, & drug dealers; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; Mentions of hitting & yelling at a woman; Mentions of fighting; Mentions of pranks & calling kids ‘gay’ and yelling at them; Mentions of aliens; Mentions of a horror movie; A couple mentions of a man running over a child; A couple mentions of embezzlement; A mention of an infertile butcher; Many mentions of pop culture, books, movies, actors/singers/celebrities, & songs; Mentions of Harry Potter; A few mentions of brand names; A couple mentions of getting R-rated movies as a kid.
Brian learned more about God & having a relationship while in South Korea; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & faiths; Mentions of prayers, thanking God, & forgiveness; Mentions of Christians & a pastor; Mentions of Christmas; Mentions of a church, sermons, & witnessing; Mentions of going to church & Mass; Mentions of rosaries & cross necklaces; Mentions of religion; Mentions of Bible & Bible reading; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A couple mentions of Narnia being biblical prophecies; A couple mentions of a Saturn deity.
My heart has always been drawn to Asian culture. Ever since a young age, I thought Asians "were the prettiest people ever" (to quote nine-year-old Lindsey).
I became active in the China adoption community back in 2012, when I was thirteen. I started following over 200 adoption blogs about families adopting from China. Come 2015 I was hearing buzz about The Drop Box in South Korea and definitely wanted to go see the documentary.
As much as you can enjoy/love a movie featuring such heartbreak, I did. I went home and painted the logo to the drop box, with the Korean Hangul and the phrase "Jesus love you" which is actually on the box in South Korea, to the Scripture Psalm 27:10 in my Journaling Bible.
Fast-forward to late 2016, I had went to China that summer and started enjoying K-dramas and K-pop that winter.
Now: I've had this book on my TBR since seeing the movie. I thought, like most avid readers, that the book would be better than the movie.
This one sure wasn't.
It took 65 pages to get to the South Korea parts of the story, the majority of this book reading like an autobiography of the director of the film and writer of this book.
Ivie shares about his addiction to porn and how he used to undress woman in his mind.
Now let me say, that I'm glad he's changed in that regard; but I still wasn't expecting this book to be what it was, and I'm very disappointed.
Content wise up to page 145:
2 ‘sexy’s; Mentions of porn & watching it (Brian looked at it often in high school & college; Mentions of him imaging to undress women, being talked to seductively, & hearing their moans); Mentions of sleeping around & sex; Mentions of kissing, girlfriends, boyfriends, dating, & liking girls; Mentions of suggestive texts & flirting; Mentions of abortions & newly born babies abandoned; Mentions of unwed & teenager mothers; A couple mentions of cheating on a spouse; A mention of date rape; A mention of a brothel; A mention of an American dream of sex, drugs, & jazz; A mention of hormonal needs.
1 ‘Oh ----‘, 1 ‘dumb’, 1 ‘gosh’, 2 ‘stupid’, 1 ‘suck’, two forms of ‘crap’; Mentions of cursing (not written); Mentions of drinking, drunks, beer, & whiskey; Mentions of drugs, marijuana, & drug dealers; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; Mentions of hitting & yelling at a woman; Mentions of fighting; Mentions of pranks & calling kids ‘gay’ and yelling at them; Mentions of aliens; Mentions of a horror movie; A couple mentions of a man running over a child; A couple mentions of embezzlement; A mention of an infertile butcher; Many mentions of pop culture, books, movies, actors/singers/celebrities, & songs; Mentions of Harry Potter; A few mentions of brand names; A couple mentions of getting R-rated movies as a kid.
Brian learned more about God & having a relationship while in South Korea; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & faiths; Mentions of prayers, thanking God, & forgiveness; Mentions of Christians & a pastor; Mentions of Christmas; Mentions of a church, sermons, & witnessing; Mentions of going to church & Mass; Mentions of rosaries & cross necklaces; Mentions of religion; Mentions of Bible & Bible reading; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A couple mentions of Narnia being biblical prophecies; A couple mentions of a Saturn deity.
July 1, 2016
I haven't given five stars in a while... but this book deserves it.
First of all, it's just beautifully written. Good flow, development of the story being told. Raw. Authentic.
And then, the story. This young man has a remarkable story, both of the Drop Box and his own life. There's something in his story for everyone. I took a lot away from this book, and I'm so glad it was loaned to me. It was a well timed read.
It deals really honestly with the sin in his life, so be warned about that. It's not graphic, but it's not sugar-coated either.
First of all, it's just beautifully written. Good flow, development of the story being told. Raw. Authentic.
And then, the story. This young man has a remarkable story, both of the Drop Box and his own life. There's something in his story for everyone. I took a lot away from this book, and I'm so glad it was loaned to me. It was a well timed read.
It deals really honestly with the sin in his life, so be warned about that. It's not graphic, but it's not sugar-coated either.
April 8, 2016
I really enjoyed the movie, but the book fell flat for me. It was more of an autobiography for the filmmaker than the story of the Drop Box Pastor and his ministry. I was hoping to learn more about Pastor Lee and his work, but in this case, the movie does a much better job of doing this.
I can't believe I am saying this, but watch the movie, skip the book. Unless you are really into film making and want to read a filmmaker's memoir..
I can't believe I am saying this, but watch the movie, skip the book. Unless you are really into film making and want to read a filmmaker's memoir..
March 27, 2015
Brian Ivie is a typical American guy with typical American guy ambitions and problems. But when God enters the scene, life is anything but typical or predictable. It's powerful and transformative.
April 10, 2018
I read this story after having watched the documentary "The Drop Box". You do not need to see the documentary to appreciate this book, although it will give you a greater appreciation for the documentary and the book.
Today, more and more, western society questions the quality of life as a basis for life. Hawaii has become the 6th state allowing assisted suicide. People also question the value of someone's life based on their ability to have experiences or stated another way, their inability to experience a fulfilling life, this documentary encapsulates a response through example like no other story.
The primary person is Lee Jong-rak. This is the summary found on Amazon. "One frigid winter, a pastor finds an abandoned infant on his church steps and builds a heated hatch to rescue any others. The Drop Box documentary tells the true story of South Korean pastor Lee Jong-rak and his heroic efforts to embrace and protect abandoned children. It is a story about the forgotten, the disabled, the discarded, and the man who gives everything to protect them."
Pastor Lee became the paragon of his community as the story spread about his care for his own son, who is profoundly handicapped and is unable to care for his basic needs (if I recall correctly, he died shortly after the completion of the documentary, he was ~30 y.o. He has lived his entire life on the floor of their tiny home being cared for by both parents. Doctors told his parents to leave him in a "home" when it became apparent that he would never have the ability to walk or talk. His parents refused.
At the time of the filming, they have reached advanced age, when most people think of retirement and enjoying hobbies. They however continue to care for more than a dozen people (children and adults) some with serious handicaps and others that have minor challenges as well as those who were unwanted or perhaps their parents could not provide them with care. All are expected to do their share of the housework and care for others within their individual capabilities and it is amazing.
Brian Ivie heard about Pastor Lee and his unique church family and traveled to S. Korea with several crew members to do a documentary. Part of good journalism is being an observer, an unbiased viewer of the unfolding story. Brian confides that he had no intention of doing anything but telling the story without embellishment or emotion. He never expected to develop a connection with the people in the story. Nor did he anticipate the deep feelings and questions about life that surfaced within him as he observed such selfless acts of compassion and love. It crossed the language barrier and the age disparity and the cultural differences. It changed Brian. It was so powerful in fact, that after the project was complete, he returned to S. Korea because he needed to understand more about the faith that Pastor Lee and his wife had.
I too was deeply impacted. I sobbed when I watched the documentary, Pastor Lee's love for his son and all his other "children", was genuine and consistent (no matter how exhausted he was) . I don't think I have personally met anyone that has that depth of character and love as Pastor Lee demonstrates day in and day out, no matter the situation and there were some very intense situations captured from health crises to not having money for basic necessities but whatever the challenge, it didn't phase Pastor Lee, he just trusted God to meet the need and it was met. Throughout the documentary, a scripture kept coming to mind, from the New Testament, James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
As I read Brian's honest and transparent account of his own journey to faith, I was deeply impacted. I almost abandoned the book because he starts out being so cynical and his objectives in creating the documentary was intent on commercial success and career building. I saw in him a reflection of my own life and cynicism that Brian aptly describes (the person I was in my early 20's) and how my own crisis of conscience transformed my life, when I became a Christian. Brian shares two beautiful stories, it would be a misfortune to miss either one.
Today, more and more, western society questions the quality of life as a basis for life. Hawaii has become the 6th state allowing assisted suicide. People also question the value of someone's life based on their ability to have experiences or stated another way, their inability to experience a fulfilling life, this documentary encapsulates a response through example like no other story.
The primary person is Lee Jong-rak. This is the summary found on Amazon. "One frigid winter, a pastor finds an abandoned infant on his church steps and builds a heated hatch to rescue any others. The Drop Box documentary tells the true story of South Korean pastor Lee Jong-rak and his heroic efforts to embrace and protect abandoned children. It is a story about the forgotten, the disabled, the discarded, and the man who gives everything to protect them."
Pastor Lee became the paragon of his community as the story spread about his care for his own son, who is profoundly handicapped and is unable to care for his basic needs (if I recall correctly, he died shortly after the completion of the documentary, he was ~30 y.o. He has lived his entire life on the floor of their tiny home being cared for by both parents. Doctors told his parents to leave him in a "home" when it became apparent that he would never have the ability to walk or talk. His parents refused.
At the time of the filming, they have reached advanced age, when most people think of retirement and enjoying hobbies. They however continue to care for more than a dozen people (children and adults) some with serious handicaps and others that have minor challenges as well as those who were unwanted or perhaps their parents could not provide them with care. All are expected to do their share of the housework and care for others within their individual capabilities and it is amazing.
Brian Ivie heard about Pastor Lee and his unique church family and traveled to S. Korea with several crew members to do a documentary. Part of good journalism is being an observer, an unbiased viewer of the unfolding story. Brian confides that he had no intention of doing anything but telling the story without embellishment or emotion. He never expected to develop a connection with the people in the story. Nor did he anticipate the deep feelings and questions about life that surfaced within him as he observed such selfless acts of compassion and love. It crossed the language barrier and the age disparity and the cultural differences. It changed Brian. It was so powerful in fact, that after the project was complete, he returned to S. Korea because he needed to understand more about the faith that Pastor Lee and his wife had.
I too was deeply impacted. I sobbed when I watched the documentary, Pastor Lee's love for his son and all his other "children", was genuine and consistent (no matter how exhausted he was) . I don't think I have personally met anyone that has that depth of character and love as Pastor Lee demonstrates day in and day out, no matter the situation and there were some very intense situations captured from health crises to not having money for basic necessities but whatever the challenge, it didn't phase Pastor Lee, he just trusted God to meet the need and it was met. Throughout the documentary, a scripture kept coming to mind, from the New Testament, James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
As I read Brian's honest and transparent account of his own journey to faith, I was deeply impacted. I almost abandoned the book because he starts out being so cynical and his objectives in creating the documentary was intent on commercial success and career building. I saw in him a reflection of my own life and cynicism that Brian aptly describes (the person I was in my early 20's) and how my own crisis of conscience transformed my life, when I became a Christian. Brian shares two beautiful stories, it would be a misfortune to miss either one.
October 23, 2023
This is an odd book. It is really not laid out on a traditional format by any measure whatsoever. I also think the author really wanted the reader to not like him with his endless and constant references to himself. This book was all about him, whereas I thought the book was going to be about the Drop Box. without actually looking, it seemed like the actual Drop Box only received about 20 pages give or take, without actually looking and counting.
However, by the end of the book I was rooting the author was going to "get it" and get out of his own way. I will give him this, he does not hide behind anything. He is very plain spoken about the areas of his life he struggled in and sinned in and in how he mistreated people. You cannot read this book without seeing he is honest about himself, but he is also writing this book from the "other side" of redemption, which of course makes a person mch more willing to use their past to win people today. I found myself laughing on multiple occasions an really cheering for this young fellow, so I definitely recommend people read this book. Now I just need to find where my wife put the movie so we can watch it.
However, by the end of the book I was rooting the author was going to "get it" and get out of his own way. I will give him this, he does not hide behind anything. He is very plain spoken about the areas of his life he struggled in and sinned in and in how he mistreated people. You cannot read this book without seeing he is honest about himself, but he is also writing this book from the "other side" of redemption, which of course makes a person mch more willing to use their past to win people today. I found myself laughing on multiple occasions an really cheering for this young fellow, so I definitely recommend people read this book. Now I just need to find where my wife put the movie so we can watch it.
June 10, 2017
I'm sure the story of the Drop Box and the Priest who saves these abandoned babies is an incredible story. Don't read this book if that's the story you seek. This book is all about the author. You get the inside scoop as to how he put together neighborhood films as a kid and then progressed through high school and into his college days. This book documents his amateur film making, family relationships, his personal addictions and foibles and finally about the babies in Korea. Oh, and his 'turn to Jesus' moment. Lousy choice if you want information about the humanitarian project, The Drop Box.
February 11, 2021
4 stars for the book, 5 stars for the film. The Drop Box is the best “Christian” movie I have seen. A moving and inspiring look into the life of Pastor Lee, a pastor devoted to adopting abandoned babies (almost all of which are disabled), the movie displays the biblical doctrine of Adoption in a captivating way. This book shares the behind the scenes look into the making of this documentary, and how the Lord used the making of the film to save its Director, Brian Ivie. For sure check out the movie, and if you want to learn more, definitely read this book, which covers Ivie’s life from childhood to conversion, and what lies ahead.
June 12, 2022
The first half is the sort of navel gazing self-importance dressed up in Christian language that you'd kind of expect from a 20 something writing a memoir. The back end, especially the reflections on the ministry in South Korea and the pastor there who spearheaded it, his relationship with the gospel, and the need for grace was all quite good.
January 8, 2024
The first time I got Audible I didn’t know exactly how it worked and somehow I ended up with this book in my library. I looked at it for a couple of years and decided I might as well listen to it. I was pleasantly surprised that it kept my attention to the end.!! It’s the kind of book that makes you want to help others.
September 24, 2018
I like this book because it is a really beautiful and compelling story of how moving the Drop Box movie changed the film makers life. It did get a little slow in places and especially the end could have been stronger.
But definitely worth the read
But definitely worth the read
March 26, 2020
So your not confused, this is about the guy who filmed the movie, The Drop Box, this is not Pastor Lee’s story. The authors’ open and honest way that he tells his conversion story is great. Find a way to have the young people in your life read or listen to this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2021
Not at all what I expected. Totally a memoir. Not much information on the dropbox. No information to tell you what happened to anyone. Can only barely give this a three.Should have been a readers digest story.
January 27, 2025
This is not what I imagined in my head while watching the film.
Brian's story is honest, dirty and inspiring.
I love how God uses situations in unexpected ways to draw people to Himself and further His kingdom.
Brian's story is honest, dirty and inspiring.
I love how God uses situations in unexpected ways to draw people to Himself and further His kingdom.
July 29, 2025
Pastor Lee has such a big tender heart for children, "the least of these" as some would call them, with infirmities and deficits that have been the cause for abandonment from their mothers. You might need to keep a tissue box close, just warning you right now. But you're in for a treat! :)
August 30, 2024
More than half the book was just about the author and what road up to the making of the film. Maybe it ended well (?) but just not what I expected.
August 21, 2017
This is one of the few books where I would recommend the movie over the book. It's not a bad book; in fact there are a lot of great things about it. However, be aware that if you are expecting more about the Lees from the movie The Baby Box, this book is actually the story of Brian Ivie, the film-maker, and his journey to faith.
April 8, 2015
Can you imagine an actual box lined with blankets outside a home with a bell that alerts the inhabitants of the addition of a baby? An actual live infant? Such a thing actually does exist for a home in South Korea. The drop box provides a safe place for people to place unwanted, deformed babies. Pastor Lee and his wife provides a home and love for these babies. Brian Ivie was a young, ambitious film student in Southern California who read the story of the drop box and saw it as a possible way to stardom for himself. He was sure that filming a documentary about this incredible place would win a major award for him. So he raised the money through donations and he went to South Korea.
But he got more than he expected. He found God in every aspect of the filming and the drop box and in especially in Pastor Lee. Brian thought he was a Christian before he made the trip but he learned that he had been faking it through and what he found was salvation and love. He found love that knows no end. Love that does not see outward beauty but sees to the soul of humans instead. He found God.
This was an incredible story and an incredible book. I wish I could see pictures of the orphanage and the infants though. Brian talks about making the film and I had wanted to see the movie and that is what motivated me to read this book. I still want to see the movie. The book is an easy read. I read it from start to finish in one sitting without stopping. Readers will likely also find this book fascinating. It is a true story of God's love and how one young man came to find it.
I rate this book 4 stars and highly recommend it to readers.
I received a pdf version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
But he got more than he expected. He found God in every aspect of the filming and the drop box and in especially in Pastor Lee. Brian thought he was a Christian before he made the trip but he learned that he had been faking it through and what he found was salvation and love. He found love that knows no end. Love that does not see outward beauty but sees to the soul of humans instead. He found God.
This was an incredible story and an incredible book. I wish I could see pictures of the orphanage and the infants though. Brian talks about making the film and I had wanted to see the movie and that is what motivated me to read this book. I still want to see the movie. The book is an easy read. I read it from start to finish in one sitting without stopping. Readers will likely also find this book fascinating. It is a true story of God's love and how one young man came to find it.
I rate this book 4 stars and highly recommend it to readers.
I received a pdf version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 24, 2015
Brian Ivie has made films since he was little. He dreamed of being a director like George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg or Ron Howard. He and his friends would get together over the summer to remake their favorite films. These were great memories growing up!
So in college Brian got to study his passion at the University of Southern California in their prestigious film school. Life could not get any better right? Enter his roommate Ted a bigger than life Christian. He had an enormous influence on Brian, his roommate’s life. They would attend Campus Crusade for Christ but this did not really have an impact on him.
So what could impact Brian in his walk towards Christ? A film project that Brian needs to do for school. What would he focus this film on? An article in the Los Angeles times caught his attention on a drop box in South Korea. Soon an idea for the film took shape. This drop box is used by a Pastor Lee to help unwanted babies. How could this possibly change Brian’s life?
My Thoughts:
My mother gave me the copy of the audiobook to listen to of Brian Ivie’s story. This story was narrated by Brandon Batchelar. He did a great job narrating this story. He illustrated the passion of Brian Ivie well and his journey to following Christ.
Sometimes you never know where the journey might take you. What is your destiny? How could God use your experiences to help others? In the Drop Box a film was used to teach Brian Ivie what a big God can do. I don’t think that we have seen the end of Brian and his journey.
What could God do for you?
So in college Brian got to study his passion at the University of Southern California in their prestigious film school. Life could not get any better right? Enter his roommate Ted a bigger than life Christian. He had an enormous influence on Brian, his roommate’s life. They would attend Campus Crusade for Christ but this did not really have an impact on him.
So what could impact Brian in his walk towards Christ? A film project that Brian needs to do for school. What would he focus this film on? An article in the Los Angeles times caught his attention on a drop box in South Korea. Soon an idea for the film took shape. This drop box is used by a Pastor Lee to help unwanted babies. How could this possibly change Brian’s life?
My Thoughts:
My mother gave me the copy of the audiobook to listen to of Brian Ivie’s story. This story was narrated by Brandon Batchelar. He did a great job narrating this story. He illustrated the passion of Brian Ivie well and his journey to following Christ.
Sometimes you never know where the journey might take you. What is your destiny? How could God use your experiences to help others? In the Drop Box a film was used to teach Brian Ivie what a big God can do. I don’t think that we have seen the end of Brian and his journey.
What could God do for you?
April 9, 2015
This book is a wonderful story of redemption, and God's forgiveness and love.
It follows the story of Brian Ivie, an aspiring director. He wants more than anything to make his own movie, As time goes by and he's not getting much closer to his goal, he begins to get into things he shouldn't.
Finally he is able to find a good opportunity, and jumps into it. After he has filmed it, he realizes how his motives were all wrong.
Pastor Lee and his children in South Korea make a very moving story. Pastor Lee and all the volunteers sacrifice so much in their lives, just to help these helpless little babies and children. The are unforgettable people, whose story deserved to be shown to the world.
This book really strengthens your faith, and makes you question your own motives. Are you holding on to something which is wrong? It makes you ask yourself wether you are really serious and devoted to God. Would give up yourself for others like Pastor Lee did?
Overall I think this book deserves at least four stars! The beginning was little boring to me, but that didn't go on very long only a few chapters. The rest of the book for sure made up for it anyway.
I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially those who have gone into bad things in their life and doubt that God would forgive them.
It follows the story of Brian Ivie, an aspiring director. He wants more than anything to make his own movie, As time goes by and he's not getting much closer to his goal, he begins to get into things he shouldn't.
Finally he is able to find a good opportunity, and jumps into it. After he has filmed it, he realizes how his motives were all wrong.
Pastor Lee and his children in South Korea make a very moving story. Pastor Lee and all the volunteers sacrifice so much in their lives, just to help these helpless little babies and children. The are unforgettable people, whose story deserved to be shown to the world.
This book really strengthens your faith, and makes you question your own motives. Are you holding on to something which is wrong? It makes you ask yourself wether you are really serious and devoted to God. Would give up yourself for others like Pastor Lee did?
Overall I think this book deserves at least four stars! The beginning was little boring to me, but that didn't go on very long only a few chapters. The rest of the book for sure made up for it anyway.
I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially those who have gone into bad things in their life and doubt that God would forgive them.
January 9, 2016
I think I counted four plot lines in this non-fiction piece. That's something I don't expect in anything but fiction. And while I can count four, they really are aspects of one. Brian Ivie makes himself vulnerable as he tastefully lays out the ugly parts of his life. In the beginning he does it in such as comical way it doesn't seem ugly or all that embarrassing. Of course, most of that was him as a pre-teen.
In college an article catches his attention and he decides his purpose in life is to make a documentary film about the man in the article. To do that takes him and a few handpicked crew members to South Korea where they meet and live with Pastor Lee. The pastor does what few in this world have the stomach to do. Those who do become candidates for sainthood, like Mother Theresa. Pastor Lee runs an orphanage for children others cannot love, children with serious abnormalities. He and his wife are able to give of themselves with so much joy.
The sacrificial life of the pastor challenged Ivie's self-centered life and started a revolution in his thinking and view of himself, ending in inner healing and healing of family relationships.
I fear I may have told too much already so I will stop here and challenge you to read it for yourself.
In college an article catches his attention and he decides his purpose in life is to make a documentary film about the man in the article. To do that takes him and a few handpicked crew members to South Korea where they meet and live with Pastor Lee. The pastor does what few in this world have the stomach to do. Those who do become candidates for sainthood, like Mother Theresa. Pastor Lee runs an orphanage for children others cannot love, children with serious abnormalities. He and his wife are able to give of themselves with so much joy.
The sacrificial life of the pastor challenged Ivie's self-centered life and started a revolution in his thinking and view of himself, ending in inner healing and healing of family relationships.
I fear I may have told too much already so I will stop here and challenge you to read it for yourself.
May 19, 2015
After reading an article in Life:Beautiful magazine about this documentary, I was looking forward to reading the movie-maker's memoir. It was a bit light for my taste, though, often feeling like he was skimming the surface when I really wanted him to dive in.
It is still an inspirational read, though, and a strong testament to the amazing things that can happen when we open our hearts to God's will for us.
In particular, this passage stood out to me:
"It was safe...It was safe because no one felt the burden of finishing on time or proving himself.
"And I think everyone wants to feel that way, not just about making something, but about being something. Everyone wants to feel like there's a safe place to be useless at stuff and average at other stuff."
It is still an inspirational read, though, and a strong testament to the amazing things that can happen when we open our hearts to God's will for us.
In particular, this passage stood out to me:
"It was safe...It was safe because no one felt the burden of finishing on time or proving himself.
"And I think everyone wants to feel that way, not just about making something, but about being something. Everyone wants to feel like there's a safe place to be useless at stuff and average at other stuff."
February 7, 2017
“The Drop Box” is an incredible documentary that describes the work being done by Pastor Jong-rak Lee in Seoul, Korea. The Lord convicted Pastor Lee of the plight of abandoned babies in Seoul, so he built a box into the side of his home/church where people can leave their babies and where they will be loved and protected. The director of the film is a man named Brian Ivie, and in this book, he shares his lifelong desire to be a filmmaker, the circumstances that led to his making this documentary, and the life-changing impact it had on him. It is a moving testimony of the power of Christ-like love and faith. I found Ivie's writing to be honest and engaging. Go watch the film (currently on Netflix) and then read this book.
December 20, 2021
I would skim the parts about Brian and focus on the work of the Korean Pastor and his family and the orphanage for disabled children. This Pastor shows a great Christian maturity and witness beyond what most people can fathom. Those parts definitely make worthwhile reading.
I had read the book after seeing the movie and I say the movie is my favorite. Brian Ivie has written too much about himself in this book. It seems the focus was as much on him as it was on the unwanted babies, and the part about him was mostly boring and could have been summed up in one or two pages. We must however give him credit for his work in taking on the major task of sharing the story of the unwanted orphans with the world.
I had read the book after seeing the movie and I say the movie is my favorite. Brian Ivie has written too much about himself in this book. It seems the focus was as much on him as it was on the unwanted babies, and the part about him was mostly boring and could have been summed up in one or two pages. We must however give him credit for his work in taking on the major task of sharing the story of the unwanted orphans with the world.
June 2, 2015
This book was ok. It wasnt necessarily a captivating book, but the story was somewhat interesting. It would have been a lot more interesting if we had been taken through what specifically happened to him in Korea. It only briefly covered his experience. You really just need to see that kind of thing to understand it. It was a really good recounting of his testimony though. He shared what was happening inside him very well and for that, I can appreciate this book and his story. But for a memoir, it wasn't really that good. If you're not a Christian you defenetely won't enjoy reading this book as it doesn't have much else to offer. I feel like the film would've been much better than the book.
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